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RYE, N.Y. -- The City of Rye is considering hiring a California-based company to handle the management of all school crossing guards.

The city currently has eight crossing guards, and is budgeted for 10 total. It is looking to hire two additional crossing guards, whose duties have been handled by parking enforcement officers and other police personnel.

"It's always been consistentyly difficult for us to get people," said Police Commissioner William Connors. Rye police put out a couple online advertisements in an effort to hire the two additional guards, and received about 86 applications. Connors said most of those applicants were not local and not considered ideal candidates.

With the construction project at the high school getting under way, the city may consider hiring even more crossing guards in the future. Connors said that it could be difficult for the Police Department to oversee more guards.

Rye is considering bringing in
All City Management Services
, a company that specializes in crossing guards. The company would be responsible for recruiting guards and for all training and supervision, as well as liability if somebody gets hurt.

The city would pay ACMS $26 per hour for each crossing guard. Current crossing guards would continue to receive $20 per hour for their services, while new crossing guards would be hired for $16 or $18. City Manager Scott Pickup said that the move could save the city money, because the city would not be liable for the guards and police officers would not have to be paid overtime to fill the role of a crossing guard.

The City Council will discuss the proposal at its upcoming meetings this summer. If the idea is approved, ACMS could take over management of the guards at the beginning of the school year.